Holder for tickets, checks, &amp;c.



PATBNTED JUNE 11, 1907.

M. MACDONALD. HOLDER POR TICKETS, CHECKS, &o. APPLIoATIoN FILED MAB. 27.190s. Bmwnwnn APB. 1o. 190e.

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MURDOCH MACDONALD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNCR TO THE MACDONALD TICKETAND TICKET BOX COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF OHIO.

HOLDER FOR TICKETS, CHECKS, &G.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 190'?,

.of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to holders for tickets, checks or similararticles, suitable for use on railways of various kinds, in restaurants,stores, places of amusement, etc., where it is desired to give to thepassenger, purchaser or spectator, a ticket, check or voucher ofsuitable character in exchange for value received, at the same timeretaining a corresponding portion or stub which may afterward be turnedover to the auditor or other accountant. In a device of this kind it isof the greatest importance that the user shall be able to quickly andaccurately make the necessary7 indications on the receipt or portionhanded to the passenger, purchaser `or spectator and simultaneouslytherewith make a corresponding auditors portion, stub or voucher. Theimportance of this will be readily appreciated when it is consideredthat the holder has its greatest use on railway train and bus systemswhere the ability to collect fares with great rapidity and accuracy, asin rush hours, is the first consideration. It is also of greatimportance to provide a holder of such character that the auditors stubor voucher will be concealed from view once the passengers or purchascrsportion of the ticket or check is removed, thus furnishing an accuratecheck on the user and dispensing with all book-keeping or accounting onhis or her part. By reason of this the user will have more time toattend to other duties.

The object of the invention is to provide a holder which will fulfil theexacting requirements set forth above, and at the same time be simpleand rugged in construction, cheap to manufacture, and not liable to getout of order either by use or misuse.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments ofmy invention, Figure l is a plan view of the holder showing a padcomprising a number oll tickets or checks in position; Ii ig. 2 is aperspective view of the holder with the ticket or check pad and theretaining device removed Fig. 3 is a perspective View of thepad-retaining device l ig. 4 is a cross-sectional view ol' the holder,with the pad in place, showing the position of the auditors stubstherein; liig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the casing with the padand holding device removed; and liig. (i is a perspective View of a padsuitable for use in the holder.

C represents the casing ol the holder, comprising a hase portion, acurved back and top and two end portions, and D a removablepad-retaining plate. The plate is provided with a lip (l on itsright-hand side, which is adapted to be slipped under the inturned edgec on the casing. VRising vertically from said lip for a short distanceis a portion d that conceals the right-hand side of the stub of the pad.from view. Formed integral with, or secured to said portion andextending parallel with the base ofthe holder, is the llat portion ofthe plate which engages the pad and confines the same within the holder,with the exposed and concealed portions lying in planes making an angleto each other. The retaining plate is locked in position by the pin 2,the lower end ol" which is adapted to pass through the base of thecasing and enter a lock affixed to the under side thereof. The key forthe lock is retained by the auditor or other duly authorized person sothat once the pad is locked in place, the user does not have accessthereto and hence cannot see what the stubs indicate. The curved portionof the casing terminates in a relatively thin edge 3. On the under sideof the padretaining plate are one, two or more devices for holding thepad in proper alinenient. In the present embodiment of the invention twopins 6 are provided for the purpose that extend through orifices 5, 'Fig. 6, in the pad.

The pad P is composed of a plurality of counterpart sheets olcomparatively thin paper and is held against the severii'ig edge by theplate D. The sheets are suitably fastened together to form a pad ofconvenient size and shape and one that can be readily handled. As shownin cross-section the exposed and stub portions of the pad form, in thepresent embodiment of the invention, an

IOO

acute angle to each other, and the individual sheets are placed under aninitial spring tension 'due to the iieXing or bending of the sheets. Theangle made by the portions of the pad can be varied to suit theconditions of service. rlhe tension on the sheets thus arranged issufficient to cause the stub portion of each severed sheet to springaway from the severing edge 3. l regard this as a very important featurevof the invention since it greatly facilitates the rapidity with whichthe user can issue tickets or checks.

I believe it to be broadly new with me to provide .a holder for tickets,checks, etc., wherein the sheets composing the pad are placed underinitial stress with the idea of 'causing the stub portions thereof tospring away from the severing edge when released.

In service all the user has to do i`s to make the proper indications onthe individual sheets before they are severed, and the stubs will takecare of themselves. When the spring tension on the pad is sufficient thestubs will disappear from view one after the other as tickets or checksare severed. When the tension on the pad, due to the character of thepaper used, is small, or to the fact that the pad has been in the holderfor some time .and the paper has taken a set, the stub portion of eachsheet may be released from frictional contact with the severing edge 3,either by depressing the exposed end of the pad slightly or by moving itbodily inward by aslight amount. This action will permit the stubs tospring back one after the other .as shown in Fig. 4 and be concealedfrom view.

In event of the spring tension of the paper being insufficient to holdthe successive sheets in proper engagement with the severing edge 3, aspring means, such as'the wing E or its equivalent is provided. In thepresent illustration of the invention the said means is hinged t'o theinner end of the plate D and normally pressed upward by one or moresmall springs coiled around the longitudinally extending pin of thehinge.

The character of the yielding means for forcing the successive sheets ofthe pad against the severing edge can obviously be Achanged withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

lt sometimes happens that it is desirable to support the pad within thecasing at a point .above the base. To accomplish this a plate G isprovided that is brazed or otherwise secured to the upright portion d ofthe pad- .retaining plate, the said plate being perforated to receivethe ends of the pins 6 and support the same.

In order to make the proper indications on both the exposed andconcealed portions of each sheet, one, two, three or more cutters orperforations .are provided. In the present instance three cutters 7, 8and 9 are provided.

These are mounted to slide individually and longitudinally of the guide10, the latter being supported by the ends of the holder and also byresting on the curved top portion thereof. The cutters are provided withsharpened ends that lie in the plane of the exposed portion of the pad,and are provided with surfaces that grip the. overhanging edges of theguide 10. In order to prevent them from moving too freely each cutter isor may be provided with a small spring 12 of suitable construction.

The sheets composing the pad are duplicates, and each is printed withthe necessary data arranged in parallel columns. 4For eX- ample, forrailway, train and bus systems, columns of figures are providedindicating the fares to be charged for different distances traveledover. Columns containing the names of streets, stations or localitiesare also provided, together with any other necessary data. The severingor tearing line of the sheets is located midway between the columns,

Assuming the holder to be loaded and ready for service the mode ofoperation .is as follows: The user takes the holder in the left handand, with a thumb or linger, moves a cutter along the guide 10 until itcoincides in position with the amount of fare to be collected. A secondcutter is moved along the guide until it registers with the place wherethe journey began; the third cutter is moved along the guide until itregisters with the place where the journey is to cease. The user thentakes the top sheet between the thumb and finger of the right hand andswings it in an arc about the severing edge 3 as an axis. This causesthe cutters to cut V- shaped slots in the sheet, and by a movement ofthe hand toward the body the sheet is severed. The detached portion withthe three V-shaped notches is then handed to the passenger for areceipt. By practice the users of these holders are able to sever theexposed portions of the sheets by a practically continuous movement ofthe hand, thus insuring rapid collection of fares and issuing ofreceipts. lf the tension on the sheets of the pad is suflicient the stubof the severed sheet will of its own accord spring away from thesevering edge if not, the pad is either slightly depressed or movedinward by a slight amount cr both, after which the position of the padis restored. The stub portion of the ticket will correspond to thesevered portion as to the fare paid, the distance traveled over. etc.7but instead of having V-shaped notches it will have V-shaped projectionsof the same size as the notches. Vhen the tickets or checks have beenused wholly or in large part the holder is turned over to the auditorand reloaded by unlocking the bolt and removing the pad, reinserting anew one and re-mounting the plate D and inserting the TOO TIO

bolt 2. By examining the projections on the stub portions of the ticketsor checks turned in the auditor can readily ascertain the sum of moneyto be accounted for.

The specific construction of the ticket holder is not claimed herein asit forms the subject matter of my application for patent, S. N. 293,854,lilcd December 2S), 1905.

In accordance with the provisions el the patent statutes, I havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

IVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States,

1. In a device of the character describei'l, the combination of a casingarranged to receive a pad composed ot flexible sheets, one portion beingwithin the casing, the other exposed, a severing edge, and a means whichretains the pad within the casi ng and places all of the sheets underinitial stress so that the stubs of the severed sheets have a tendencyat all times to retreat from the severing edge: I

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casinghaving an opening and arranged to receive a pad composed of flexiblesheets, the stub portion otl the pad being within the casing and theportion to be severed extending through the opening, a severing edgeagainst which the sheets are pressed one after the other as the portionsoutside of the casing are severed, and a holder which retains the stubportion within the casing, bends the pad to put the sheets under initialstress and holds the surface of the sheets in engagement with thesevering edge, the holder, severing edge and pad being so constructedand arranged that a bodily movement ot the pad after a sheet is severedfrees the stub portion of the sheet from said severing edge and causesit to disappear `from view.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casingarranged to receive a pad composed oi flexible sheets, concealing oneportion and exposing the remainder, a severing edge, one or more cuttersadjustable with respect to said edge, and a means for retaining the padwithin the casing, the said means being so constructed and arranged thatit tends at all times to withdraw the stubs of the sheets vfrom thesevering edge and from view.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casinghaving an opening and arranged to receive a pad composed of flexiblesheets, concealing one portion and exposing the other through theopening, a severing edge against which the sheets are pressed one afterthe other as the exposed portions are severed, a removable holder which'forms one wall ojt the casing, holds the sheets in a bent positionagainst the severing edge and thus places them individually underinitial stress to cause them to spring away from said edge, and meansAfor attaching the pad to the holder to 'facilitate its insertion andremoval from the casing.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a casing,arranged to receive a pad composed ol` Vflexible material, concealingone portion and exposing the other, means `for holding the )ad in a bentposition within the casing so tliat the sheets are placed underindividual stress, to cause them to-move away from the severing edgewhen released, one or .more devices l'or making indications or recordson the successive sheets, and a severing edge arranged to successivelyengage the sheets and retain the stub portion against the severing edgeunt-il released by a relative movement o'l the main body ol: the pad andsaid severing edge.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing having a backportion rounded transversely and provided with a severing edge along thefront and top thereo'l and a series of cutters slidably engaged on thetop ol said casing and provided with points extending beyond saidsevering edge at an angle there- 9 to, in combination with apad-confining plate removably attached over the 'front and top ol" saidcase, means con'liningthe sheets of said pad in the casing connectedwith said plate, and a spring-pressed wing on one edge of said plate tohold the tickets to the severing edge.

7. A device of the character described consisting of a casing having itsfront edge constructed to form a severing edge lor the sheets and openacross its lront beneath said edge, in combination with a plateremovably secured over said lront, a spring-pressed wing having its edgeopposite said severing edge, and indenting cutters slidably mountedalong said severing edge projecting outward at an angle to said edge.

8. A device oi' the character described, comprising a casing witharounded back portion and a severing edge along its 'front and top, aseries of' pointers slidably mounted on the top of said casing andhaving points in line with said severing edge, in combination with aretaining mechanism for a pad comprising a plate removably locked in thetop of said casing, and a spring-pressed wing engaged On the edge o'lsaid plate and adapted to press the pad against the said severing edge.

9. A device of the character described comprising a sheet-metal casingwith a severing edge at its to'p front, in combination with apad-retaining mechanism consisting o'l" a plate adapted to overlap aportion of the pad, means to lock said plate in the said casing,

means to engage the pad and prevent its being drawn out, and means tohold the pad up against said severing edge.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a severing edge forthe pad sheets along its front and top, and open at its front to insertthe pad, in combination with means to coniine said pad comprising aplate constructed along its front edge to be locked upon said casing, aspring-pressed wing hinged on the inner edge of said plate, and cuttersslidably mounted on the said casing and having points bent to aninclination and operatively related to said severing edge.

l1. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to hold apad and to conceal the auditors stub when the exposed portion has beenremoved, said casing having an opening lengthwise across its front'bordered by a severing edge for the pad sheets, a yielding plate to holdthe pad against said severing edge, and means to 'HX the pad in thecasing, comprising a support on which the pad rests, and means holdingthe pad upon said su port, the said casing having a rounded bac i behindsaid severing edge to conceal the sheets of the pad after the ticketshavev been detached.

12. In a device of the character described, a case adapted to receive apad composed of flexible sheets having a rounded back and top portionterminating at its front in a severmg edge for the sheets, said severingedge being on a plane below the highest point in the top of the case,whereby when the eX- posed portion of a sheet is torn off oi the stub ithas room to spring back and be concealed within the upper portion of thecase, in combination with means to confine the pad comprising a plateremovably secured overthe front of said case and extending inward at itsrear to a plane substantially beneath the highest point in the top ofthe case, whereby when the pad is coniined beneath said plate the angleof bend for the pad is made acute to facilitate the springing of thestubs back into the case. i

13. In a device of the character described, a casing to hold a pad andto conceal the auditors stub when the ticket proper has been severed,said casing having an opening lengthwise across its front bordered by asevering edge for the ticket, a yielding plate to hold the pad againstsaid severing edge, and means to hX the pad in the casing comprising asu port on which the pad rests, and means hol ing the pad upon saidsupport, the said casing having a rounded back behind said severing edgeto conceal the sheets ofthe pad after the tickets have been detached.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

MURDOCH MACDONALD. Titnesses z i R. B. MOSER, C. A. SELL.

